Bridge



C. WALTERS Nov. 16, 1943.

BRIDGE Filed June 25, 1942 2 Sh eets Sheet 1 c a l NOV. 16, 1943. c w s 2,334,521

BRIDGE Filed June 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

. bridge.

footbridge. I

drums or bobbins to which carried.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES nunciir g Christopher Walters, Swanwick,England, assign-,

or to v The ,Butterley terley,,England Application June 2 Company Limited, But- 5, 1942, Serial N0. 448,448

In Great Britain February21 ,-194 1 11 claims.

This invention relates to bridges.

The object of the invention is'to provide a system or method of construction applicable to bridges of all types from light footbridges; to heavy bridges of large spans which will require only a small number of difierent standard parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide forms of bridge which will be'simple and speedy in erection.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a bridge constructed of standard parts which will be inexpensive in production. I I

A further object of the inventionis to provide a system of construction employing standard parts which can be easily stored in readiness foruse. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of construction in which the same sta'ndard parts can be used'for light or heavy bridges of varying spans. v

inusing box-section or The invention consists equivalent standard girders to form chord and V diagonal unitsarranged in triangles constituting the sides'of the bridge, the'girders being attached "at their intersections toconnecting members such the floor of the bridgeis carried.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a as drums or bobbins, from some of which'also Figure 2 is a plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a part transverse sectionoi a light Figure 4 is a similarview to Figure 3'bu't sliowing the. heavier, construction illustrated in Figurel.

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a partside elevation and part plan of one of the'box section girders used in theconstruction. 1

Figures land 8 are elevations of one of the the box section girders are attached. 1

Figures 9 and 10 are elevations'and Figure 11 a plan showing details of the construction of Figure on the transverse girders-"in light'and heavier 5 constructions. v v

Figure 14 is an elevation'of a suspension plate by means of which the transverse girders are 'the constructio'n of side elevation of 'a part of a" (0144 -13) H J Figures 5' to 14 are drawn to enlarge scales.

constructed of box section mild steel 'girders' a shown in detailinFi'gures S and 6. A cylindrical drum,'boss-'orbar b, having'a'central hole 17 is WEldEd lll position at each end of each girder, the 7 sides ofthe girder being cut out to receive it and the top and bottom of the girder hammered down and welded round the member I) finishing 10 at the extreme end a with a butt weld; The

girders a are of standard length and sectiomand -m ay be internally reinforcedfor example by tubular members a i they are assembled intriangue lar formation as shown in Figure. 1 by being secured to bobbins or drums c. -,As shown in detail in Figures .6 and? these consist of circulargor' other suitably shaped side plates 0," connected by two'transverse plates .0 parallel to eachother "welded'or otherwise secured between .the. side 20 platesn Six-holes 0 c are formedin the side plates;--wh ich are spaced 'at equa'langles.radially: the two holes c which are intended, when the bobbin is in use, to lie on the horizontal diameter of 'each side plate; may be formed'nearer to the centre' offthe side plate than the other four holes- 0 Tnese holes' receive bolts or, pins which pass through the members b in the ends of the girders a. A-seventh'centralholefic in J the bobbins-or drums willbe hereinafter referred to. The sideplates of the bobbins are strengthened where the various holes occur by welding theretogpreferably on their inner faces, four bosses 0 one round eachof the upper and lower holes, and a rectangular or other plate c having 5 holes"therein'corresponding with the holes 0 c 'Along the bottoms or the sides of the bridge, floor girder suspension plates d' are attachedxto the bobbins c. These are of inverted U-shape, as.

:shown in Figure 14, 'drilled for connectionto the 40 niembe1'sc and also having holes in their leg portionsiorthe cross girder connections. For

and heavier types of bridge, as shown in Figures 1; 2 and 4,-ro1led steel joists are substituted, wing plates 9 being welded to' the webs of the joists for connecting to the suspension plates. To proone or twoadditional box section side structures may be provided alongside the original ones .at {each side of the bridge; connected togetherby tie bars and distance pieces h through the, cen- '1 The sides of a bridge, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, are I l adapted to receive the girders a. For roadway vide for very heavy loading, as shown in Figure 4, v

necessary. The ends of the floor joists are drilled for gangway attachments. Heavy bridges or bridges of large spans may have their side structures built up in a double tier, the construction being carrier out by means of the standard drum connections at the intersections of the box section girders. Overhead bracings may be provided.

The connecting pins are desirably of one'standard pattern throughout, a. turned pin with nut and split cotter being suitable. At the sides of wide bridges the box section girders a Eigure may be utilised as curbs or fenders, secured tp the sides of the bridge by cleats passed through the tubes a in the members a. The floor plates 1' are of thesame length as the intersections of the girders a andof chequered type, hayingi ends :andsides flanged downwardly, with stiiienersj Figures,.1 2 and,1 3, welded on, and they areprei; e'rably arranged longitudinally with the spa of thebridge.v Their ends are stepped for bedding ontothe cross-girders (1,-1, as-shown in Fig'ures iZ and 13, and they fit closely up to the sides of the bridge.

The construction :spansby simply suspending the cross girders frgm thetop chords-ofthe sides instead of frqm; tlie bottom chords as in the fthrough type hereinbefore contemplated. p

In the ,foregoing,descriptionit has 'sumed that'the box section girder members are of integral construction throughout-their length, but this is not necessarily the case; it might be found convenient to make the end parts or the girders separately, and secure them to the main part by any suitable method such asrweldi ng- It hasalso been assumed that the girders are or a rectangular box-section throughout their length, as shown in the drawings; this also is not necessarily. the case, since so long as theend parts of the girders are suitable, for1use as hereinbeiore described the shape of the intermediate portion oftheir. length is immaterial.

Havingnow described my inventionfwhat TI claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Bat- J entis: H

..1'. Ina bridge the combination comprisi a ,plurality of standardgirder members assembled .;in triangular formations, and a plurality of bobbin members located one at each ofthe juncition points of said girder members, each or said bobbin members consisting of apairpfplates, and a pairof spacing members secured betweenjsai'd pair of plates, said plates beingsp aced apart a distance substantially equal to width of a girder.

member, said spacing members extending trans- .versely in parallel relation between said plates and being :spaced apart a, distance substantially equal to the thickness of agirder member, said girder membersbeingsecured separately between their respective pair of plates. 1

2,,In abridge the combination comprising a ,plurality of standard hollow, tubular girder members, each, of said girder members having a hole adjacent each end, thereof,-said holes having tions,.a' plurality of bobbin members located one at each of thejunction points of said girder members;each 'ofsaid bobbin members consisting of a pair of plates, and a pair of spacing memcan be was it e riale bers secured in parallel relation between said plates, said plates and said spacing members being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width and thickness respectively of a girder member and receiving the end of a girder member between them, each of said plates having holes therein which are spaced at substantially equal angles radially about the centre of the plate,'the holes in the two plates being in reglll. ister, and means passing through the registering holes in the plates and through the holes in the "ends of the girder members for securing said girder members to said bobbins.

Ina bridge the combination comprising a plurality of standard hollow tubular girder members, each of said girder members having a hole {adjacent 'each 'end thereof, said holes having their axes parallel to one another, said girder members being assembled in triangular formations, a plurality of bobbin members located one at each of the'junc'tion points of "s'aidgirclerm'e'm bers, each of said bobbin members consisting of a pairof plates, and seen or spacing members secured in parallel rel'atibn between said plates, staid "plates and said spacing members bein spaced apart a distance -s'n bstaiiti'ally equa1 to the width and thickness respectivei "of 'a'girder'meinber sai eeivirig meander a girder-member be- M tween them, each of s'aid'plates'h'aving holes therein which are spaced at substantially equal angles radially about the "centre of the plate, the holes in the'twoplatesbeingin register, two "of said holes in each'platefwhen said bobbinis'in pgsitio'n, being located "on a horizontal diameter of their-corresponding;plate and bei'ngne'are'r to the centre ofth'e side'pl'ate thahthe other holes, and means passing through the registeringfholes in the'platesiand'throughthe liol'esfin the ends of u the girder memb'ersfor'secu'ring said. girder mem- 40 bers to 'said bobbins.

{1. In abridge the combination comprising 'a plurality; of standard h ollow tubulalr girder members, each oi said :gir der members having a hole adjacent each end thereof, said holes having their axes-parallelit'o-jone another, said girder memb e rs being assembled in triangular formations, a pluralityof bobbin"members located one at each ofthe junction points of said girder-members, each of said bobbin members consisting of a pair of plates, anda pair of spacing members secured in parallelfrelation between saidplates, said plates and said spacing members being spaced apart a distance substantially equal-to the 'width and thickness respectively of a girder mmber and receiving the end of a girder member between them, each of said plates having holes therein which are spaced at substantially equal an les radially about thecentre oi the-platajthe holes in the two-platesbeing in register, each-of said plates also haying a entral hole therein, and means passing through the registering holes in the plates and through theholes in the ends of the girder members for securingsaid girder members to said bobbins. i A 4 H r p 5. In a bridge the combinatipn comprising a pluralityof standard-hollow tubular girder members, each of said girder members having-a hole adjacent eachend thereof, saidholes having their axes; parallel tooneianother, said-girder membersbeing-assembled intriangularlformations, a plurality of bobbin members located one at each 5 of the junction pointsgof said girder members, each of said bobbin members consistingof a pair of plates, and a pair of spacing members'secured in parallel relation between said plates.

said plates and said spacing membersbeing spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the 'width and thickness respectively of a girder 'member and receiving the end of a girder memb'erbetween them, each of said plates having holes therein which are spaced at substantially equal angles radially about the'centre of 'the plate, the holes in the two plates being in register, two of said holes in each plate, when said bobbin is in position, being located on a horizontal diameter of their corresponding plate and being nearer to the centre of the said plate than the other holes, each of said plates also having a central hole therein, a pair of reinforcing plates, each having holes therein corresponding with the holes on the horizontal diameter and the central hole, said reinforcing plates being secured to said plates, and a plurality of apertured bosses secured one over each of the remaining holes in said plates, said reinforcing plates and bosses being secured to adjacent faces of said plates, and means passing through the registering holes in the plates and through the holes in the ends of the girder members for securing said girder members to said bobbins.

6. In a bridge the combination comprising a plurality of standard girder members assembled in triangular formations of chord and diagonal units, and a plurality of bobbin members located one at each of the junction points of said girder members, each of said bobbin members consisting of a pair of plates, and a pair of spacing members secured between said pair of plates, said plates being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of a girder member, said spacing members extending transversely in parallel relation between said plates and being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a girder member, said girder members being secured separately between their respective pair of plates, a plurality of pairs of inverted U-shaped members secured in pairs to some of said bobbin members, a plurality of cradle members secured one between each pair of inverted U-shaped members, and further standard girder members engaging said cradle members and extending transversely across the bridge to act as girder member, said spacing members extending V transversely in parallel relation between said plates and being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of 'a girder member, said girder members being secured separately between their respective pair of plates, a plurality of pairs of inverted U-shaped suspension members secured in pairs to some of said bobbin members, and a plurality of section floor girders arranged transversely across the bridge and carried at opposite ends in pairs of inverted U-shaped members at opposite sides of the bridge.

8. In a bridge the combination comprising a plurality of standard girder members assembled in triangular formations, and a plurality of bobbin members located one at each of the junction points of said girder members, each of saidbobbin members consisting of a pair of plates, and

a pair of spacing members secured between said pair of plates, said plates being spacediapart a distance substantially equal to the width of a girder member, said spacing members extending transversely in: parallel relation between said plates and being spaced apart 'a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a girder member, said girder membersbeing secured separately between their respectivepair of plates, a pluralityof pairs of invertedU-shapedsuspension members secured in pairs to some of said bobbin members, and a 'plurality of section floorgirders arranged transversely across the bridge and carried at opposite ends in pairs of inverted U- shaped members at opposite sides of the bridge, and wing members secured to said floor girders and said suspension plates.

9. In a bridge the combination comprising a plurality of standard hollow tubular girder members, each of said girder members having cutaway side portions adjacent each end thereof, said cutawayrportions having their axes parallel to one another, said girder members being assembled intriangular formations, each of said girders being of box-section, a drum located in said cutaway portions, the top and bottom walls of said girder member adjacent the cutaway portions being bent around said drums, a plurality of bobbin members located one at each,

of the junction points of said girder members, each of said bobbin members'consisting of a pair of plates, and a pair of spacing members secured in parallel relation between said plates, said plates and said spacing members 'being spacedapart a distance substantially equal to the Width and thickness respectively of a girder member and receiving the end of a girder member between them, each of said plates having holes therein which are spaced at substantially equal angles radially about the centre of the plate, the holes in the two plates being in register, and means passing through the registering holes in the plates and through the drum for securing said girder members to said bobbins.v 10. In a bridge the combination comprising a, plurality of standard girder members assembled in triangular formations, and a plurality of bobbin members located one at each of the junction points of said girder members, each of said bobbin members consisting of a pair of plates, and a pair of spacing members secured between said pair of plates, said plates being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width and thickness respectively of a girder member, said spacing members extending transversely in parallel relation between said plates and being spaced apart a distance substantially equal'to the thickness of a girder member, said girder members being secured separatelybetween their consisting of a plurality of standard box-section girders arranged in triangular formation of chord and diagonal units, each girder including two sides and top and bottom walls; said sides and top and bottom walls being separated from one another adjacent opposite ends of each girder saicl :sides :having 'nutaway portions ;adjacent their "ends, a drum being located between each pair'of sidesinthe cutaway portion 26- of, the :ends of :the top andfbottom walls :hein bent around the corresponding drum, :a :plural itysof bobbins located :one at each junction ;.point of said :girders, :eaohmf .saidlibobbin members comprising two circular side lplaies and twozpaitallel horizontally located .aspacing 1P13UES BSEG11T61 between said side plates, the spacing ibetween saidaside plates and xsaidspacing :splabes rbeing substantiallyequal to the-width and thickness respectively of 2a; girder, uthe inclined girders 'bein'g ienga'ged between the .side plates,'whi=1e ithe horizontally arranged ,ggi-rders .zfit into the '\-space CHRISTOPHER WALTERS. 

